Fall 2022 Law Clerk Opening – Oakland, California or Seattle, Washington – Hybrid Position

Fall 2022 Law Clerk – Hybrid Work Position

Family Violence Appellate Project (FVAP) is seeking 1-2 part-time law clerks to join each of our dynamic teams in California and Washington for Fall 2022. This is a part-time clerkship for a minimum of 16 hours per week. Our California office is in Oakland, California. Our Washington office is in the Seattle, Washington area. This position will require some of the total number of hours take place in person, in our office. The total number of hours will be determined with the individual on a case-by-case basis. In general staff will be coming into the office a minimum of 1 day a week.

We value diverse experiences and backgrounds. FVAP’s clientele is diverse, and we serve individuals and advocates throughout the state, including rural, suburban, and urban populations. The ideal candidate will bring skills and experiences enabling the candidate to serve these diverse populations adeptly in the context of domestic violence and appellate litigation. To promote social justice and best serve our clients, FVAP is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to supporting a diverse staff and providing culturally competent services. Individuals of all races, ethnicities, national origins, religions, ages, sexes, sexual orientations, and gender identities, as well as differently abled persons, survivors of domestic violence, candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities and historically oppressed groups, bilingual and bicultural candidates, and those who are the first in their family to complete college or graduate school, are  encouraged to apply.


Family Violence Appellate Project is the only organization in California and Washington states dedicated to appealing cases on behalf of survivors of domestic and other forms of interpersonal violence. We are committed to social justice and dedicated to shaping California and Washington law to prioritize the safety of survivors and children. We are also committed to supporting the statewide network of domestic violence and legal aid service providers.

FVAP’s work includes:

• Representing clients in the California and Washington Courts of Appeal,
• Submitting amicus curiae briefs in cases of statewide importance,
• Monitoring unpublished cases daily and requesting publication of important domestic violence cases,
• Engaging in legislative and systems change advocacy efforts,
• Providing trainings, technical assistance, and written informational materials, and
• Facilitating information exchange among statewide stakeholders supporting survivors.
  

If you are interested in being part of this exciting social justice movement and resource for domestic violence survivors and advocates across California and Washington, this is the place for you! You can learn more at www.fvaplaw.org.

Essential Duties:

Duties may include the following (other duties may be assigned):

• Assisting with an active pipeline of case referrals, including completing an initial case analysis, which involves analyzing the trial court record and the legal issues in the case and making a preliminary recommendation on whether FVAP should accept the case for appeal
• Conducting legal research and writing
• Assisting FVAP’s work with pro bono co-counsel to file appellate and amicus curiae briefs
• Analyzing and presenting social science literature in the field of domestic violence
• Assist with updating and improving FVAP’s written materials and trainings
• Contributing overall to FVAP’s work to achieve its organizational mission

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Completion of at least one year of law school (including Civil Procedure) at an accredited university
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong understanding of issues specifically facing clients in crisis and low‐income clients
• Ability to adapt to and work in a fast-paced environment and complete time-sensitive assignments thoroughly and on time
• Legal research skills
• Knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence, domestic violence law and/or family law strongly preferred, either through course work or work experience or other experience. (Work in other areas of interpersonal violence may qualify)

Strongly Preferred but not Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience with trial or appellate court documents and procedure
• Experience working directly with clients in crisis
• Litigation or appellate experience
• Completion of a course in Evidence
• Experience with writing legal concepts in plain language for non-lawyers